Attracting shoppers to your store begins way before they even step through the front door. If the eyes are the window to the soul, then creating winning windows that work, is where the road to success begins.

As the modern pace of life increases and working hours continue to break from the traditional 9 – 5, we as consumers have become ever more demanding. We want to eat, we want to drink and we expect to shop wherever and whenever we choose.

Now you could, like the old countryside churches, keep your doors open to the masses 24/7. But for most retailers, unless you live in the States, that’s just never going to happen. So perhaps it’s time we considered just how big of a showcase opportunity your windows display can be. May be it’s time to really learn how to use it to its maximum effect, so that your window display is working when you are not.

As a retail product developer, I’m often asked where I get my ideas from. The answer is everywhere and anywhere, but very often it’s found in the world markets I travel to. They’re such a rich source of inspiration, especially for sourcing authentic visual merchandising solutions. From humble fruits and vegetables, to livestock and flowers; local markets are the heartbeat of any city, town or village.

This past February, I had the great fortune of once again revisiting the breath-taking and vibrant Rajasthan region of India. Pulsating with people, noise and winding streets, our travels lead us to a simple village market with an inspirational way of displaying their wares.